PA Environment Digest An Update on Environmental Issues In Pennsylvania Edited By David E. Hess, Holston & Crisci July 26, 2004 Who said summer break? The State Planning Board is given a mission, deep mine safety legislative initiative announced, EPA watershed grants, green building workshops, wildlife project grants… Contents - On the Hill Guaranteed Energy Savings Bill Signed into Law Will PA’s Growing Greener Proposals Follow New Jersey’s Toxics Fee? In Other News DEP Announces Mine Safety Legislative Initiative as Follow Up to Quecreek PECO Gives $232,000 to Philadelphia Housing Authority for Solar Energy U.S. EPA Awards $1.15 Million Grant for Schuylkill Action Network More Regional Water Resource Committee Meetings Scheduled Rendell Announces State Planning Board Members, Mission Apply Now through Oct. 1 for Alternative Fuels Grant U.S. EPA Proposes Berks County Site for Superfund List DEP Seeks Ideas for Waste Tire Recycling, Reuse Building Green Tools for Materials, Energy, Interiors and More Online Green Building Activities in Pennsylvania, Courtesy Green Building Alliance Grants for High-Priority Wildlife Projects Announced Taking Positive Actions DEP Loan Program Helps Business Save Dollars and Environment DCNR Salutes Hiking Group's Trail Work in Delaware State Forest Watershed NewsClips Regulations July 29 – Independent Regulatory Review Commission incidental mining rule August 17 - Environmental Quality Board agenda Technical Guidance & Permits Draft - Procedures for the Approval and Accreditation of Laboratories Draft - Environmental Education Grants Program Manual and Forms Final - Screening Criteria on Water Quality/ Quantity Impacts for Drinking Water Calendar of Upcoming Events July 27-29 – PROP Statewide Recycling Conference. Wilkes-Barre August 12-14 – Pennsylvania Land Choices – Teacher Workshop. Erie August 18 –Roundtable on Environmental Management Systems. Towanda August 19 –Roundtable – Measuring Environmental Performance. Wilkes-Barre Sept. 16 – Third Annual Ohio Watershed Celebration Sept. 30-Oct.2 – Fifth Annual Statewide Watershed Conference, Fogelsville. Helpful Web Links Contributions Invited PA Environment Digest – Holston & Crisci On the Hill Guaranteed Energy Savings Bill Signed into Law House Bill 1996 (Adolph-R-Delaware) was signed into law by Gov. Rendell which provides school districts and local governments with new options for saving energy through guaranteed energy savings contracts. The legislation allows local governments and school districts to enter into a contract with a third-party vendor that guarantees actual energy-related savings over a set period of years. The contract is used to purchase a complete package of energy improvements and services for the facility. If, in any year, the predetermined savings are not achieved, the third-party vendor is responsible for paying back the difference between the projected and actual energy savings. Specifically the legislation-- Expands the payback period from 10 to 15 years to allow for more energy conservation measures to be installed. Expands the types of energy conservation measures that can be included under these contracts, such as day lighting systems, renewable energy systems, and indoor air quality improvements. Clarifies that certain types of operational savings are eligible to be part of Guaranteed Energy Savings contracts, such as changes to more favorable rate schedules, and load shifting programs to reduce peak demand. Will PA’s Growing Greener Proposals Follow New Jersey’s Toxics Fee? Gov. Rendell proposed funding his Growing Greener II proposal with a variety of new fees on household waste, waste from businesses and chemicals reported under the federal Toxic Release Inventory. Prior to this month no other state had a similar line up of fees. However, neighboring New Jersey’s final budget settlement in June put in place or increased several sets of fees on toxic air emissions and hazardous substance transfers earmarking the revenue for improving security around nuclear power plants. Assembly Bill 3118 imposes an annual air toxics surcharge based on emissions at certain facilities. The surcharge would be based on the annual emissions of what New Jersey calls Category 2, Category 3, and Category 4 toxic substance as reported in the release and pollution prevention report for that facility. The air toxics surcharge for each facility would be: (1) $10.00 for each pound of Category 4 toxic substances released as stack or fugitive emissions; (2) $1.00 for each pound of Category 3 toxic substances released as stack or fugitive emissions; and (3) $0.10 for each pound of Category 2 toxic substances released as stack or fugitive emissions. The bill also establishes the "Nuclear Power Plant Security Fund" as a special non-lapsing fund in the NJ Department of Environmental Protection. The fund will be credited with $2,000,000 from the amount of air toxics surcharges under the act. Monies in the fund must be used to provide or enhance security at nuclear power plants in this State. 2 PA Environment Digest – Holston & Crisci New Jersey also increase the fees imposed on hazardous substance transfers and discharges. Assembly Bill 3117 changes the tax imposed pursuant to the Spill Compensation and Control Act for transfers of hazardous substances from 0.0150 to 0.023 cents per barrel for petroleum or petroleum products, precious metals, elemental phosphorus, or in certain circumstances, antimony or antimony trioxide sold for use in the manufacture or for the purpose of fire retardants. For hazardous substances other than petroleum products, precious metals, elemental phosphorus, or, in certain circumstances, antimony or antimony trioxide sold for use in the manufacture or for the purpose of fire retardants, the bill changes the tax from 1 percent to 1.53 percent of the fair market value of the product. Will the “Green Ribbon” Commission established to look into developing an environmental funding proposal for the fall take the same track? We’ll find out! In Other News DEP Announces Mine Safety Legislative Initiative as Follow Up to Quecreek Rescue Capsule 6-inch air hole Rescue Shaft 6-inch air hole Rescue Shaft Arnold Farm Rescue site July 2002 Arnold Farm 2004 PECO Gives $232,000 to Philadelphia Housing Authority for Solar Energy PECO Energy has provided the Philadelphia Housing Authority (PHA) with a grant of $232,100 for installation of photovoltaic solar energy systems at 22 homes in the Grays Ferry Estates under construction in Southwest Philadelphia and the Lucien E. Blackwell Homes in West Philadelphia. The grant is part of a $500,000 PECO commitment to support solar power installation in low-income housing in Philadelphia. The company's initial grant -- $88,000 to the Norris Square Civic Association in December 2002 -- supported the installation of eight systems in the 100 block of W. Norris Street in North Philadelphia. 3 PA Environment Digest – Holston & Crisci The grant is made available through PECO's Universal Services program, which provides usage reduction and utility financial assistance to more than 125,000 low- income households throughout the company's service area. The Grays Ferry Estates, an affordable housing development, are being built on the site of the former Tasker Homes in Southwest Philadelphia near the Schuylkill Expressway. Eighteen of the 22 solar energy units will be installed there on south-facing homes on Mifflin Street. The remaining four units will be installed at the Blackwell Homes, formerly the Mill Creek Homes, at 46th Street and Fairmount Avenue in West Philadelphia. The Housing Authority estimates that residents using the solar systems will save from $400 to $500 yearly in energy costs, or as much as 25 percent of their energy costs each year. Six 185-watt solar panels will be mounted on each roof and connected to the home's electrical system. Each installation is expected to produce 1,630 kilowatt-hours of usable electricity in a year. Based in Philadelphia, PECO Energy is an electric and natural gas utility subsidiary of Exelon Corporation. U.S. EPA Awards $1.15 Million Grant for Schuylkill Action Network The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced a $1.15 million grant this week to support the continuing efforts of the Schuylkill Action Network to address water quality issues in the Schuylkill River Basin in southeastern Pennsylvania through EPA’s Targeted Watershed Program. “This funding recognizes the public and private partnerships and will accelerate the pace of environmental improvement of the Schuylkill River watershed. The continuing dedication of the Schuylkill Action Network will ensure cleaner water and measurable environmental change,” said Donald S. Welsh, regional administrator for EPA’s mid-Atlantic region. The Schuylkill Action Network – formed in March 2003 – includes EPA, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, Philadelphia Water Department, Delaware River Basin Commission, Partnership for the Delaware Estuary, conservation districts, local, state and federal agencies, watershed organizations, non-governmental organizations, and other essential stakeholders assisting with the crafting of local solutions. The grant will be presented later this year to the Partnership for the Delaware Estuary, which will work with its grant co-applicant, the Philadelphia Water Department, and other partners to implement more than 70 projects to limit the impacts from storm water, agricultural runoff and acid drainage from abandoned coal